Six business leaders from Gwent have been recognised at IoD Wales’ Director of the Year Awards 2017.

Celtic Manor owner Sir Terry Matthews was named IoD chairman Jean Church’s Director of the Year with 75-year-old Miriam Warner, managing director at Miracle Workers Agency in Abergavenny being given the Judges’ awards, which wasn’t included in the shortlist but was announced at the event.

Talent & Innovation was also a surprise category, announced on the day and awarded to brothers-in-law Bradley Cummings and Gareth Williams, of Newport's Tiny Rebel Brewery.

Scott Liddle, operations director at Newport-based Acorn was named Director of the Year in the Medium / Large Business category and Mark Burn, chief financial officer at Henry Howard Finance, also based in Newport, was named Director of the Year in the Finance Sector.

IoD Wales Director Robert Lloyd Griffiths’ accolade was given to Debra Barber, managing director at Cardiff Airport at this year’s awards, which are now in their seventh year are sponsored by Cardiff Business School and included four additional categories year.

The awards have become an established highlight on the Welsh business calendar and celebrate business achievements and inspirational leaders across Wales while bringing all sectors of the business community together, irrespective of size, geography and longevity.

Miriam Warner established her family business 20 years ago and it now provides live-in care throughout the UK and Europe to clients with varying needs, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, post-operative care and mobility issues.

Tiny Rebel Brewery was started by Bradley Cummings and Gareth Williams in their garage seven years ago. Today they have a 22-strong team and can produce five million litres of beer. Turnover has tripled in the last three years with this year’s production being up by a million litres. They recently invested £2.5m in their new brewery, to be able to meet global demand and have Tiny Rebel bars in Newport and Cardiff.

As director of operations at Acorn, Scott oversees the sales activity at 33 branches and on-site locations, as well as Acorn’s Australian company. He has developed specialist recruitment divisions in divisions including engineering and construction and launched Acorn Global, the international recruitment business. He established ‘IT Bootcamps’ for STEM graduates and in response to a skills shortage and work with The Wallich charity to provide training and work opportunities for the unemployed and homeless.

Last year Henry Howard Finance Group provided finance for more than 6,000 businesses and lent more than £150m. Mark Burn has been Group CFO since July 2014 and has since secured £91m of funding facilities. He has overseen the development of four business divisions, reflecting the business’ shift from brokerage to own balance sheet lending. Own book income at Henry Howard Finance Group is forecast to increase fivefold since Mark started at the business.

The awards were hosted by television presenter Andrea Byrne from ITV Wales, which is media partner for the awards, held at SSE SWALEC. Effective Communication also partners the presigious awards.

Robert Lloyd Griffiths, Director of IoD Wales said: “The awards exemplify what is at the very heart of what the IoD is all about – good governance and leadership. Good leaders and good directors enable businesses to meet their full potential. In simple terms, better directors mean better business means a better economy. At the awards we honoured directors and senior managers who are exemplars in the business community from across Wales, who have this year lead their organisations with distinction.”